A United Nations special envoy has met Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in an attempt to break years of political deadlock.

I think Razali will insist the [government] shows concrete progress

Asian diplomat

Razali Ismail, a retired Malaysian diplomat, is trying to negotiate an end to Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest, as part of reconciliation talks with the ruling military junta.

There were no details of his talks with Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League of Democracy (NLD), which were held at her lakeside residence and lasted for two hours.

Earlier he met the junta's number three, Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, the influential chief of
military intelligence.

Neither Mr Razali or the Burmese Government made any official comment on those talks either.

But the UN envoy is reported to have told local businessmen afterwards that he had "a good meeting" with General Khin Nyunt.

A South-East Asian businessman told AP news agency that Mr Razali was optimistic of progress "in a few weeks".

Ongoing dialogue

This is Mr Razali's seventh visit to Burma since he initiated secret talks in October 2000.

On arriving in the country on Tuesday he said he was "always optimistic" and told representatives of Burma's ethnic minorities he hoped for progress in the dialogue between the pro-democracy leader and the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won 1990 elections by a landslide but the military junta refused to give up power.

The opposition leader has been under house arrest since September 2000 when she tried to take a trip outside the capital Rangoon. Rumours have been rife in diplomatic circles that the junta might be about to release her, perhaps during or shortly after Mr Razali's visit.

Crunch time

UN officials say Mr Razali's visit is a make-or-break trip because the international community is growing increasingly impatient at the lack of concrete results.

Mr Razali is on a four-day visit to Burma

But privately, UN officials have told the BBC that the prospects for a major breakthrough are dim.

The negotiations have so far resulted in the release of about 200 political prisoners, but have achieved little else. Mr Razali has hinted he might resign if he leaves the country empty-handed this time.

Diplomats say that only Aung San Suu Kyi's release can counter growing suspicion that the junta is using the negotiations as a means of ending the poverty-stricken country's isolation and lifting crippling sanctions.

"I think Razali will insist the [government] shows concrete progress," an Asian diplomat based in Rangoon told Reuters. "The easiest way to do it is to release Aung San Suu Kyi."

Mr Razali is also to meet Senior General Than Shwe, the leader of Burma's junta at some point during his four-day visit.